The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, hosted a high-level delegation from the Government of the Republic of Suriname as part of efforts to deepen collaboration on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) reforms and human capital development.
Receiving the delegation, the Director-General of NDPC, Dr Audrey Smock Amoah, explained that the Commission, established under Articles 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution, plays a central role in advising the President on national development planning, policy formulation, and strategic programmes. 

She noted that human capital remains one of Ghana’s most critical resources and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to its development through coordinated and evidence-based strategies.

The Director-General further highlighted the Commission’s mandate to coordinate Ghana’s decentralised planning system to ensure balanced development across districts and regions. She acknowledged the persistent disparities between northern and southern Ghana, as well as inequalities within regions and districts, stressing that spatial planning and targeted social interventions are essential to achieving inclusive growth.

She added that Ghana’s medium-term national development policy framework, titled “Resetting Ghana’s Agenda: Creating Jobs, Ensuring Accountability, and Promoting Shared Prosperity (2026–2029)”, places human capital development at the centre of national transformation. 

According to her, the strategy adopts a whole-of-government approach, engaging ministries, private sector actors, youth groups, women’s organisations, and civil society to address skills mismatch, early childhood development gaps, gender inequality, and labour market inclusion.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the delegation from Suriname, Mr Sergio Frederick Akiemboto, Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, underscored the deep historical and cultural ties between Ghana and Suriname, describing the relationship as one rooted not only in shared heritage but also in common aspirations for development. 

He explained that Suriname is entering a transformative phase, with anticipated growth in oil and gas, infrastructure, digital technology, and industrial expansion, which will require a highly skilled and adaptable workforce.

He emphasised that the delegation’s visit was driven by a desire to learn from Ghana’s experiences rather than “reinvent the wheel”. The engagements, he noted, had already proven fruitful, and Suriname looked forward to adapting Ghana’s lessons to its national context while building a long-term partnership grounded in trust and shared purpose.
Earlier, Mr Peter Porekuu, Chief Planning Analyst at NDPC, delivered a technical presentation outlining Ghana’s Human Capital Development Framework. This included baseline studies on TVET and early childhood development, stakeholder consultations, and the establishment of a High-Level Coordinating Committee to guide implementation. He identified skills mismatch, weak early childhood investment, a large informal sector, and deep spatial inequalities as some key challenges the strategy seeks to address.